Fire Police Officer Charles ‘Chuck’ A. Young, age 71, of Bethany Beach — formerly of Wilmington -— passed away on June 4, 2015, at Beebe Healthcare in Lewes.
Chuck was born in Philadelphia on December 18, 1943, and was raised in Drexel Hill, (PA), son of the late Leland F. and Virginia H. (Mann) Young.
He graduated from Bonner High school in 1961 and attended Temple University. Chuck loved sports and played both football and baseball. He also proudly served his country from 1963 to 1965 in the US Army in the Counter Intelligence Corps in Orleans, France. After his discharge from the Army, he worked as a sales engineer with Mine Safety Appliances. In 1982 he married Diane M. Young and they spent 28 years together until her passing in 2009.
Chuck started his own property management company and owned and managed a number of small apartment buildings in the Wilmington area. He was a co-founder of the Greater Wilmington Housing Providers, an association of property managers.
Since 1969, he has been a volunteer firefighter and EMT with Talleyville Fire Company and currently with Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company (BBVFC), where he holds the position of Fire Police Officer. Through the years, he held several fire and administration offices in the fire company. In 1993, he built a home in Bethany Beach and retired full time in 2005. Chuck enjoyed working with his neighbors on several committees and also served on the Board of Directors of the Salt Pond Community in Bethany Beach. In the past few years he has been blessed to have his faithful companion, Mary Putschky by his side. He is also survived by two nephews, Lee and Steve Kowalski and a grandniece, Shannon Kowalski.
On June 9, 2015, the officers and members of the BBVFC were joined at their headquarters by hundreds from the community to honor Chuck and his family. Tower 70 and Quint 70-5 crossed ladders and held an American flag over Chuck’s truck. The viewing was followed by a very moving funeral service. A full military salute was then performed, including Taps, a 21-gun salute and presentation of the colors. Chief Martin then sounded last alarm as the BBVFC said farewell to its brother.
The BBVFC would like to thank the community for all of your support during this time of loss for the family, the company and all of us who were privileged to call Chuck a friend.
– DFSN photos courtesy of the BBVFC
